Maeda Appointed Vatican Cardinal

June 29, 2018

Paris- Pope Francis created 14 new cardinals, including Japanese Archbishop Manyo Maeda, on Thursday during a consistory at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Maeda is the sixth Japanese cardinal and the first since Fumio Hamao became a cardinal. Hamao died in 2007.

The pope, who was born in Argentina, is opening up the Vatican to all nationalities.

A half of the newly appointed cardinals come from countries outside Europe, such as Iraq, Bangladesh and Madagascar.

"Serve the poor and those living with pain and disease," the pope told the new cardinals, calling for them to avoid power struggles. Jiji Press